Last week I told you there would be a march of London Fire Fighters to highlight Mayor Boris Johnson‘s intended closure of 12 firestations in London. The march met at the commemorative Monument to the Great Fire of London 1666. The Fire Brigades Union (FBU), have a sense of pride & diligence in their work of saving lives & property. Judging from the choice of venue to meet they also have a sense of irony. Their sense of humour rang out with the “Rescue – Me!” engine blasting out Johnny Cash‘s song “Ring of Fire”. Boris & his feeble attempts at wit will never match the stinging sense of foreboding here.

FBU piper, banner & fire fighters

The march set off from the Monument on Fish Street Hill in blazing sunshine, passing over London Bridge en route along Southwark Street to demonstrate against the proposed cuts & closures outside the Fire Brigade Head Quarters. The Fire Authority was meeting with members of the Greater London Authority, Councillors: Darren Johnson (Green Party), Navin Shah (Labour), Stephen Knight (Lib. Dem.) to vote on whether closures should go ahead.

Placard leans on Monument to Great Fire 1666

The result of the vote was 10 against the proposals & 9 in favour. the Mayor has the final say.

Threatened with closure

Although ultimately it should be the 94% of Londoners who are against these cuts, which are intended to save SEVEN PENCE a WEEK on our Council Tax!! I don’t call that value for money.

Above is a t-shirt depicting Clerkenwell fire station. Not only is the OLDEST purpose built fire station in Europe, but fire fighters have attended the King’s Cross Station fire in 1987, The Bishopsgate bombing of 1993 & 7th July 2005 bombings – what more proof do we need that this is a VERY important fire station??

All this to save just SEVEN PENCE a WEEK from your Council Tax! This is blatantly wrong.

Everyone should be up in arms about this threat to Londoner’s life & limb!!